REPORT OF THE TASK FORCE ON SIZE AND INTIMACY
August, 2001

Small Groups

Our basic response to size has been to promote joining small groups (especially Havurot) to create a "community of communities." Small groups provide, among other benefits, face-to-face contact in a small setting that facilitates developing relationships with other members.

Our small group efforts have expanded in the past year. For instance, we have created several new Havurot, and established a Book Club. Currently a significant percentage of members participate in Havurot or other "fellowship" groups (an estimated 10-20%).

Participating in a small group seems to be an effective way for many members to enhance their feeling of belonging to BJ. However, depending on their stage of life and personal needs, not all members may want to commit to a significant (or perhaps any) on-going group involvement. For example, joining a Havurah is probably not for everyone-alternative small group opportunities should be available.

Role of a Small Group
Small groups should support and enhance members' spiritual lives and their ties to BJ. BJ is more than a community center –it strives to be a sacred community. Accordingly, BJ's small groups should include a spiritual component. Depending on the small group, the experience might include:

  • Worship
  • Learning
  • Family feeling
  • A base of support-if something good or bad happens to a member, they should know where to turn; and
  • An opportunity to support the community at large through the group's actions
Probably no small group will have all of these aspects present, but small groups can broaden their role by adding worship, study, or other new aspects. For instance:
  • A Havurah originally organized for study and worship might look for an opportunity to support the community by ushering on the High Holidays, or organizing a social action event. For instance, one Havurah presented a Purim skit for the benefit of the community.

  • A committee organized to focus on BJ activities (e.g., fund-raising, or education) might add worship or study to its meetings.

Making Small Groups Available to More Members
Additional small group experiences could be made available to members through more flexible scheduling and variety in the choice of themes. Suggestions include:

  • Create new small groups each year (perhaps as many as ten) because many people prefer to join new groups.

  • Use variety and flexibility in themes and scheduling in creating small groups ("one size does not fit all") after determining members' interests; examples could include: Short-term groups (e.g., coincident with the school year)
  • Theme-based (specialty) groups (e.g., the new Havurot created for health-care professionals, and for parents with young children; kosher cooking; Jewish history)
  • Weekly groups for seniors with more flexible time
  • Study groups at members' worksites
  • Life-cycle groups (e.g., members with parents in nursing homes)
  • Groups organized by geographic location

  • Offer one-time events (e. g., one-day in-city retreats, proposed "institutes") for those members who can't or don't choose to participate in an on-going small group.

    Staff Support
    To be fully effective, small groups need BJ staff support (both rabbinic and non-rabbinic). On-going rabbinic support is necessary to prepare study materials, help train leaders, and on occasion, participate in group meetings. Other staff support is needed to help determine members' interests in small groups (beginning at the new member orientation), create and organize groups, identify and invite prospective members, and deal with logistics and problems.

    Information about Havurot activities can be shared with other Havurot and other members in a newsletter or our current publications. Providing BJ-prepared materials, guidance, and rabbinic support is important to maintain BJ as a "community of communities," and not a "group of communities" that over time lessen their tie to BJ.

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